Trumpeter extraordinaire Max Colley III will kick off the 2020 Sounds of Summer concert series tomorrow at Cutler Park.
The popular concert series is one of the few free concert series that will take place this summer. The concert is set for 7 p.m. and organizer Patty Williams said there will be social distancing guidelines including groups sitting at least six feet a part.
Colley has earned many honors over the years including being named the 2014 Musician of the Year by the West Michigan Jazz Society. He has performed with several area groups such as the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, The Truth in Jazz Orchestra and Gumbo Nuveau, as well as his own Max Colley III Quartet.
Through his Facebook, Colley has stated he is excited about being able to performing considering so many summer concerts have been cancelled.
“I always look forward to this and try and keep it fresh and new each year,” Colley wrote on his Facebook page. He has been part of the Sounds of Summer concert series for about 20 years. “It will be hot, but I guarantee it won’t be snowing!”
Joining Colley on stage is Jordan VanHemert on sax, Kazuki Takemura on bass, Elijah Cosby on drums, and Colley will be trumpet and drums.
The Sounds of Summer includes family friendly activities. All performers start at 7 p.m. The shows are sponsored by Byron Township.
“We know that people really look forward to this,” said Byron Township Supervisor Tom Hooker about the annual Sounds of Summer concert series. “We just felt this was an opportunity for people to get out and look forward to something that was different.”
Upcoming performances include Jaded July 9, Oat Bran Boys July 16, Dusty Chaps July 23 and LWND July 30. For more information about the Sounds of Summer, click here.
The nonprofit community center Streams of Hope announced June 29 that its client-choice Food Center will reopen its physical storefront beginning July 2. The Food Center serves more than 500 families in Kentwood’s Townline neighborhood with supplemental food assistance.
As part of its efforts to help “alleviate financial stress during the coronavirus pandemic,” the Food Center has remained active throughout the shutdown utilizing a drive-thru format, and in recent weeks saw a 50 percent increase in visitors, according to a statement from Streams of Hope.
To ensure safe shopping at the Food Center, visitors will make an appointment online and receive a health check before entering the building with a face mask.
In addition, Streams of Hope announced it had acquired CirclesGR to “invest in long-term solutions to poverty.”
“We are excited to re-open the Food Center and bring CirclesGr into our family of programs,” Kurtis Kaechele, Streams of Hope executive director, said in supplied material. “We are creating a healthier neighborhood together, alongside our community.”
Programs like the Food Center address urgent needs, while CirclesGR will implement long-term solutions to assist families, according to Streams of Hope. Other programs at Streams of Hope include SpringGR, from which 14 entrepreneurs will graduate this summer, and a reduced-cost health clinic in partnership with Exalta Health which will also re-open in July.
“Part of our purpose is to raise the poverty IQ of allies and of the community,” Julie Liske, CirclesGR director, said in supplied material. “Poverty is complex: root causes, systemic barriers, and the impact not only on the family but the whole community. CirclesGR offers a holistic way of looking at both poverty and prosperity, and how we might be able to empower more individuals to reach a place of economic independence.”
Liske will temporarily stay on staff with Streams of Hope “to ensure a smooth transition,” according to Streams of Hope.
Streams of Hope is a community-based ministry in the Townline neighborhood of Kentwood. For more information visit streamsofhope.org. For more information on CirclesGR visit circlesgr.org.
As part of its commitment to building stronger communities and serving those who served, the SpartanNash Foundation invites store guests to take part in its companywide fundraising effort, supporting military heroes and their families. The SpartanNash Foundation’s fundraising effort will run July 1-12, and all funds raised will be evenly split between nonprofit organizations Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), Operation Homefront and Honor and Remember.
SpartanNash Foundation grants will be used to connect servicemembers, veterans and their families to their local communities through physical and social activity, provide critical financial assistance and family support services and honor those who lost their lives defending our freedoms.
During the 12-day scan, store guests who visit any participating SpartanNash-owned retail store or fuel center in nine states will have the opportunity to donate $1, $5 or $10 at any checkout lane, or round their total up to the nearest dollar to support the trio of patriotic partners. More than 150 stores are participating in the Foundation scan, primarily under the banners of Family Fare, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery and Dan’s Supermarket.
For the first time, 20 Martin’s Super Markets in Michigan and Indiana will also take part in the SpartanNash Foundation scan campaign, introducing the Foundation and its mission to Martin’s store guests for the first time.
“One of our company’s core values is patriotism, and we are deeply committed to serving our military heroes and their families both at home and abroad,” said Kathy Mahoney, SpartanNash Chief Legal Officer and President of the SpartanNash Foundation Board of Trustees. “We do so by contributing thousands of dollars, products and volunteer hours to military and veterans organizations and events each year, as well as hiring veterans and military-connected associates as a Military Friendly® and veteran-friendly employer.
“In partnership with Team RWB, Operation Homefront and Honor and Remember, our Foundation scan is another unique and powerful way we can support our military heroes and ensure they have access to the benefits they have earned and the camaraderie they need. What better time to join with our store guests to support our military heroes than leading up to the Fourth of July, when we celebrate the freedoms they protect.”
Since 2016, the SpartanNash Foundation has raised and granted more than $1 million for its patriotic partners through its fundraising scan campaigns, benefitting veterans service organizations including Give an Hour, Fisher House Foundation, Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., Disabled Veterans National Foundation and in 2020, Team RWB, Operation Homefront and Honor and Remember.
The City of Kentwood announced to WKTV this week that a dozen or so city vehicles will parade throughout the community on Saturday, July 4, as a way “to celebrate Independence Day safely in lieu of its traditional celebration activities this year.”
The city did much the same as a truck tour last month in celebration of national Public Works Week. See a WKTV video of the event here.
The July 4 parade will begin at 9 a.m. on the western border of the city, near the intersection of Division Avenue and Maplelawn Street, and travel toward the eastern border the city, ending about 11 a.m. near the intersection of Burton Street and Forest Meadows Court.
A small scale map if at the bottom of this story. The full parade route and tentative timeline is available online at kentwood.us/july4. The timeline is tentative as the parading vehicles will be traveling at a faster speed on main roads and at a slower speed on residential roads, according to the city’s webpage on the event.
Residents are invited to watch the parade from the nearest street to their home on the parade route but, according to the city statement, to practice physical distancing from others when they do so.
“The City of Kentwood is pleased to be able to offer a safe, alternate way of engaging with our community on the Fourth of July,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “It is our hope to inspire joy and celebration for America’s independence by bringing the traditional parade to residents throughout the Kentwood community.”
In early June, the City of Kentwood decided to join other communities in canceling this year’s annual July 4 celebration.
“Due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and restrictions on large group gatherings, the City Commission voted against hosting the event this summer out of an abundance of caution,” according to the city statement.
The fireworks show planned for July 4 has been postponed to the Kentwood Food Truck Festival this fall.
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
Oh how we hate to start off by being the bearer of bad news, but according to state law, fireworks are allowed June 29 – July 4. So if you are planning to light up the skies this weekend, don’t. If you get caught, you could face upwards of a $1,000 civil fine. For more on the rules and how to prepare your pets, click here.
Give Some Love to Local Businesses
Independents Week starts Saturday. Hosted by LocalFirst, this special event celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit by supporting local businesses who could use a lot of love right now after being closed for 10 weeks or more. Starting on Monday are different themes each day to help inspire residents on how they can be supportive. For more information, click here.
Feeding the mind and the stomach
The KDL Kentwood, Kelloggsville, and Wyoming branches will all be offering the Meet Up and Eat Up program. a free lunch program for K-12 students. (WKTV).
The Kent District Library announced it has expanded the Meet Up and Eat Up summer food program for K-12 students. Students can visit one of 12 KDL branches such as Kentwood, Wyoming or Kelloggsville, and receive a free meal. Click here for more information. Kent ISD has announced the program Summer Brain Gain for students in K-12. The program is designed help students stay sharp over the summer and avoid the usual knowledge drain that happens when students are out of school for a long period of time. The program is offered through Aug. 7. For more, click here.
An early design to provide cool air to car passengers. (Wikipedia)
Fun Fact
When the temperatures and humidity are high, we all enjoy a little cool air as we drive around in our automobiles. We have Detroit’s Packard Motor Car Company to thank for this luxury. In 1939, the company was the first automobile manufacturer to offer an air conditioning option. Made by Bishop and Babcock (B&B) of Cleveland, Ohio, the units were large, taking up half the trunk space. The system also was not reliable and had no temperature control. The option was discontinued in 1941 with other companies eventually perfecting the air condition option for cars. While air conditioning (amongst other things) has become a standard on today’s automobile that was not always the case about 40 years ago. Air conditions partly become popular because it was more aerodynamic for the car windows to be closed while going down the road then opened to cool off the riders.
The Kent County Health Department is partnering with the Black Impact Collaborative and LINC UP to provide a free COVID-19 community testing today, Monday, June 29, from 2 to 7 p.m., at the Gallery at LINC UP located at 1167 Madison S.E., Grand Rapids.
The county announcement is also available in Spanish at the link at the end of this story.
In Kent County, members of the Latinx community account for 39.4 percent of the COVID-19 cases while comprising 10 percent of the population, while African Americans have 19.25 percent of the cases but make up 10 percent of the population.
Federal CDC-provided Coronavirus test kit. (KCHD)
“We know that COVID-19 has been disproportionately impacting the African American and Latinx communities, so the Black Impact Collaborative wanted to partner with Kent County to make sure that African Americans and Latinxs in our community have the opportunity to get tested,” Robert Womack, Kent County commissioner, said in supplied material. “This is such a needed resource for our community to allow anyone to get tested and we are thankful that the County put this testing day together.”
Any person, 6 months of age or older, can get tested, according to the county statement. Pre-registration for this event is encouraged by going online through this link or calling 616-632-7200 but walk-in testing is available.
The specific location of the free testing is based on county data.
“Our data is showing that 17 percent of our COVID-19 positive cases are located in the 49507 Zip Code and yet only six percent of Kent County’s population resides in this area,” Dr. Adam London, director of the Kent County Health Department, said in supplied material. “This type of data continues to inform our response to COVID-19 and ensures our resources are accessible to the most impacted neighborhoods.”
The county health department “will continue working to address the racial and ethnic health disparities by collaborating with community partners to offer testing in areas that are showing a higher prevalence of positive cases,” according to the county statement.
“We are excited to work with community partners like the Kent County Health Department, who recognize that racial health disparities exist and are actively working to address them by changing their practices,” Vincent Thurman, communications manager at LINC UP, said in supplied material. “COVID-19 has further revealed how stark these disparities are and how much needs to change.
“Partnering with KCHD is a great step forward to improving equity in healthcare. The data shows that Black and Brown communities are at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and we are happy to have free tasting available to residents in our neighborhoods.”
To learn more about Kent County Health Department services visit accesskent.com/health.
The story of a 2019 cooperative project between the City of Kentwood police department and the Kentwood Public Schools Red Storm Robotics team, a robot that reached full operation in 2020, was a good news story early this year.
And despite Kentwood schools, and WKTV Journal, seeing big changes in how they did business starting in March due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it is still a good news story — a tool for Kentwood police to help them make better decisions in the field and an example of the high level of interaction between the city’s schools and city staff that Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley relentlessly advocates for.
“What I love about this is always investing in the next generation,” Mayor Kepley said in March when WKTV was producing a video project on the Red Storm Robotics project with the police department. “And this is just another opportunity, and really a great opportunity, to invest in the next generation. … The city working with the school, working with professionals, using technology, and more importantly investing in the very individuals who will be leading this community in the future.”
The police robot project is a prime example of not only engagement with the students but of also giving advanced students a lesson in real-world, on-the-job, design of robotic technology.
Of course, Red Storm was up to the challenge presented by the police department.
WKTV talked with Mayor Kepley, Kentwood Police Chief Richard Roberts and Sgt. Jeff Leonard, and instructors/parents of the Red Storm Robotics project, including Adam Veenendaal, Mark VanderVoord and Wendy Ljungern.
But most importantly, we talked with students of the program past and present, including Jason Gray-Moore, Kerim Puczek, Jacobi Thompson and Annalise Welch.
For more information on Kentwood Pubic Schools’ Red Storm Robotics program visit their website at redstormrobotics.com.
While fireworks and local community events may not be happening this July 4th, there is still a way for area residents to celebrate the nation’s birthday and give a little love to local businesses.
This year, LocalFirst has put together its first Independents Week, June 27 – July 4. The event, started by the American Independent Business Alliance or AMIBA, is designed to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirt by showcasing local businesses.
“We actually started working on this way before COVID,” said LocalFirst Marketing Manager Mieke Stoub during an interview with the WKTV Journal. “We had plans to make this something really big, but COVID had other plans.”
Area businesses have faced a lot of twists and turns as the state grappled with dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, which lead to many businesses being shutdown for at least 10 weeks. With public gatherings restricted and the future being decided on an almost day-by-day basis, LocalFirst staff were not certain if they could even host Independents Week.
“That has definitely been the name of the game – Pivoting in this fast past ever changing world when we don’ know quite what tomorrow’s news is going to be,” Stoub said. “We didn’t know that our businesses, if some of them would even be open at this point.”
The road has been rough for all businesses, especially the small locally owned ones.
“Our local businesses work on such thin margins,” Stoub said, adding that for restaurants, they need to be at a 100 percent capacity in order to make a profit. “So for the economy to come to a screeching halt that it has, it’s really a scary time for businesses and they need us to show up.”
With all the craziness and the fact that many businesses lost so much during the shutdown, LocalFirst recognized the need to host an event focused on independent business owners. So the work began to turn the Independents Week into a virtual event.
“We decided to make it super flexible, making it online as much as possible and really point people to local businesses and their social media to see the most recent updates,” Stoub said.
Show some love to a local business by visiting or purchasing a gift card. (Supplied)
To help area residents, LocalFirst created different themes for each day. Starting Monday, the themes are:
Monday, June 29: Show Love Today: This is a day to write a review for a local business, such as Wyoming’s Lindo Mexico or Kentwood’s Schuler Books & Music. You could also tag a local business in your social media to show your support.
Tuesday: June 30: Show Love Tomorrow: This is an opportunity to support to a business by purchasing a gift card to use in the future, especially a business, such as Celebration! Cinema, that has not opened yet. Stoub also suggested making a hair appointment with a local stylist or for those planning to do some decorating, contacting some of the local home decor businesses such as Grand Rapids’ Verhey Carpets.
Wednesday, July 1: Let Someone Else Cook: Who doesn’t like a night off from cooking? Well there are a lot of great local restaurants, such as Wyoming’s Lindo Mexico and Grand Rapids’ Daddy Pete’s BBQ, offering in-dining and takeout. Many area food trucks, such as the Patty Matters, also are operating and are easy to find through their websites and social media.
Thursday, July 2: Retail Therapy: The Greater Grand Rapids area also has many locally owned shops from Rockford’s Aunt Candy’s Toy Shop to the area’s longtime sports shop Bill & Paul’s Sporthaus. Head over to The Mudroom and make a plate, browse the shelves at Kentwood’s Schuler Books & Music, or grab a few cans from Kentwood’s Broad Leaf Local Beer.
Saturday, July 4: Grill Out: What is July 4th without grilling out? You could hit a number of the area farmers markets such as the Fulton Street Farmer’s Market or a family-owned one such as Belding’s Heffron Farms to collect up on your goodies. Byron Meats now offers the HarvestBox where you can order a selection of beef, pork, or chicken. Also there are a number of area businesses that offer packaged meals — both ready-to-cook and cooked — to making the day a little more relaxing. Remember with the holiday, you may need to pre-order items.
Stoub emphasized that Independents Week is really a launch pad to help inspire residents on ways they can support local businesses. Spending local is important, she said because for about every dollar spent, 68 cents stays within the community. This in turns helps produce more local jobs and creates economic stability.
“Our businesses are excited about Independents Week,” Stoub said. “They are excited about just being open.”
Many of the local business owners are nervous as the future still remains uncertain. They are also making sure to follow all Kent County Health Department and Center for Disease Control guidelines.
“The important thing is our businesses need us to show up and that is what we can do right now,”
For more about Independents Week, LocalFirst or how spending local benefits the community, visit localfirst.org.
The Kent Intermediate Superintendents’ Association, during a Tuesday, June 23, teleconference, released the results of a survey of more than 30,000 Kent ISD area parents asking questions related to the school reopening issues.
The bottom line of the extensive survey (link at end of story), according to a summary shared with media during the teleconference, is that while some parents seek continued distance learning for various reasons including their child’s safety, the majority desired “safe, in-school” education for their children.
“Most parents would like to see a return to school as normal in late August,” Ron Caniff, superintendent of Kent ISD, said in supplied material. “Our superintendents are working to ensure a safe opening, researching all information regarding the steps necessary to protect students and staff, and will remain connected with the health department and parents throughout the summer to ensure they are well informed about school re-opening plans.”
Kent ISD website photo. (Supplied)
The survey results come in preparation for the planned release June 30 of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap”, which is expected to set state directives for the reopening of schools in August.
The survey, commissioned by the Kent ISD on behalf of the superintendents’ association and administered by Gartner Marketing, was conducted from May 29 through June 10. The 30,000 responses represent parents from the 20 public school districts across Kent ISD but did not include any private or charter school parents, according to the Kent ISD.
The Kent Intermediate Superintendents’ Association (KISA) Future Learning Committee hosted the meeting. The speakers included Superintendent Caniff; Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, KISA Future Committee Chair and member of the Governor’s Return to Learn Advisory Council; Sunil Joy, Data Scientist at Kent ISD; and Ron Koehler, Education Consultant and former Kent ISD Assistant Superintendent.
The Kent Intermediate Superintendents’ Association represents the superintendents Kent ISD and each of the 20 school districts it serves.
Survey summary results highlights
Among the key findings of the survey, according to the KISA summary (link at end of story), is that parents want to see school open in the fall, in a traditional face- to-face setting; continued parental concerns about safety will likely necessitate an online option; and a hybrid option has many of the same challenges as an online learning option and “It is also not highly preferred by parents.”
Part of the reason for a hybrid option — where students would spend part of their time in school and part of their time at learning remotely — is that there would be little cost savings on the part of the districts currently facing possible loss of state funding due to COVID-19’s economic impact. (See a WKTV story on the possible funding losses here.) And there would be little difference between the costs of an in-person or hybrid option.
Kevin Polston, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, KISA Future Committee Chair and member of the Governor’s Return to Learn Advisory Council. (Supplied)
“We know that hybrid and in-person costs are going to be very similar,” Superintendent Polston said during the teleconference, “because even though you may have fewer students back each day you still have your full compliment of staff the needs to be back each day.
“And, in addition, for a district like Godfrey-Lee, … we served more meals closed than we did open. That means for the students that aren’t at school each day are still going to need the nutritional services that schools provide. So we are going to need to allocate additional resources.”
The survey summary presented at the teleconference (link at bottom of the story) was, as explained by the Kent ISD’s Sunil Joy, a “stratified random sample of 800 respondents … (that was) … representative of the demographic makeup of our region.”
Sunil Joy, Data Scientist at Kent ISD. (Supplied)
“A random stratified sample just is a statistical method to ensure the respondents to the survey actually look like the county’s demographics,” Joy said to WKTV. “For example, if East Grand Rapids parents made up a significant percentage of all respondents — that wouldn’t be very representative of our county as only a small percentage of our county is from East Grand Rapids. So that’s why it’s a stratified sample — so it’s more representative of our districts as whole.”
The survey data was also “disaggregated by respondent groups (e.g. race/ethnicity, special education, income, etc.)”
“This simply means that I reported data not just ‘overall’ but also for different respondent groups,” Joy said to WKTV. “For example, in the question of whether childcare is an issue if school did not open 100 percent this fall, I included both what parents said overall, but also by different grade-levels. As no surprise, parents of younger kids had greater concerns with childcare if school didn’t open normally in the fall.”
In addition to the overall, county wide survey results released at the teleconference, each district has access to their own district-specific reports.
“Each district will share the results in the way they see fit with their constituents,” Joy said to WKTV. “The best way to get them is to contact the district directly, if it is not already available on their website or social media.”
School Re-entry Plan
At the teleconference, and using the results of the survey as part of their guidance, the superintendents’ association also released a School Re-entry Plan, in both English and Spanish. (See links to both at bottom of the story.)
Among the highlights of the plan are: a “desire” to return to full-time, face-to-face instruction, per state health requirements; the intent to provide a high-quality online learning option for students and families; districts will share best practices in virtual instruction to maximize efficiency and quality; families who choose an online option will have continued access to local district extracurricular and co-curricular activities.
The plan also makes clear that a a hybrid option — a mix of face-to-face and online learning — is “not preferred and will be implemented if it is the only way to have in-person instruction as mandated by state executive order.”
Superintendent Polston, in summing up the position school districts could be put in come June 30 and the result of the Governor’s “Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap” plan, said the best interest of the students must and will come first.
“Regardless of the model for teaching and learning, together we must be ready to meet the challenge that awaits,” Polston said. “And we will.”
A quick flip through Facebook and you know its fireworks season.
“I would like to say thank you to the [person] lighting off fireworks and causing our dog to go crazy. I hope that you are pleased with causing the neighborhood dogs to freak out …”
“OMG. This is worse than the Fourth of July. STTTOOOOPPPPPP! The dogs are freaking! I have come to detest fireworks.”
“Our neighborhood was like a war zone last night and the 4th is still two weeks away.”
While no one can blame people for wanting to have some fun after being cooped up for 10 weeks or more, if you are shooting off fireworks before June 29, you are doing so illegally in most areas. Those who get caught could face up to $1,000 in civil fines.
In 2011, Michigan approved the sale and use of consumer-grade fireworks and in 2018, the state amended the law to allow local governments to restrict the use of fireworks, except around certain holidays, such as July 4.
If fireworks are being displayed outside of those times, it is recommended that residents contact their local police departments even if they do not know the exact location of where the fireworks are being set off.
“Dispatch will put out a broadcast to all cars of ‘fireworks in the area of …'” said Lt. Eric Wiler, of the Wyoming Department of Public Safety. “As call volume permits, officers will check the area of any violations of the firework ordinance.”
Wiler added that in the according to the state law, fireworks are not permitted on public property such as roads and parks, schools, churches, or the property of another person without their permission.
Helping Our Four-legged Friends
So how do we help our dogs get through all the noise and commotion of fireworks? We checked in with local rescue Mosh Pit Rescue for some tips.
Keep your dog INSIDE in a closed secure room with no open windows.
Use a TV, a white noise machine, your laundry, your dishwasher, a fan, your bathroom fan EVERYTHING to provide familiar noises.
Double check your dog is wearing a collar with tags and your contact information is current on the pet’s microchip.
Contact your vet about medications – there are meds that can help ease anxiety.
Make sure your pet is exercised during the day and take them out just before dusk again so the dog is tired and ready for a calm nap.
Many dogs like a kennel with blankets over the kennel as a secure safe space.
Consider a Kong with Frozen Peanut Butter or other feeder puzzle toy or chew toy to keep your dog occupied and distracted.
Have current photos of the pet in case they go missing.
Woodland Mall recently welcomed the reopening of the Apple Store, joining the Macy’s, J.C. Penney and Von Maur anchor stores and dozens of other stores and restaurants.
And while the customer experience is now a little different from the time before the COVID-19 shutdown, the efforts of Woodland Mall management company PREIT make clear that safety and cleanliness is now an important part of that experience.
WKTV talked with Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director, to detail some of those measures.
For the latest WKTV Journal story on the re-opening of Woodland Mall, including the Apple Store, visit here. (The Apple Store is now asking customers to make appointments for service at the store at apple.com/retail/woodland.)
Safety, cleanliness at the Mall
In order to comply with Michigan requirements, occupancy numbers are limited as the mall operates on reduced hours — Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. (Some stores may limit those hours.)
Woodland Mall asks guests to follow CDC recommendations, make use of the several hand sanitizer stations located throughout the mall, wear masks and practice physical distancing.
In addition to Woodland Mall carefully reviewing policies and procedures, and thoroughly cleaning the mall using CDC-recommended disinfectant, common area furniture and other elements where physical distancing cannot be enforced have been removed. While the play area also remains closed indefinitely, food court seating is now available at reduced capacity.
A complete list of venues open at the mall, as well as updates on safety and cleanliness protocols, can be viewed on Woodland Mall’s website.
A term all-too familiar to educators is “Summer Brain Drain” — that students tend to regress in their educational skills over the summer school break. It is expected to be even more of problem with the final months of the 2019-20 school year moving to online learning instead of in-class learning, the so-called “COVID Slide”.
According to a 2019 article by GreatSchools.org, teachers spend an average of 4-to-8 weeks every fall reviewing materials students have studied but lost mastery of over the summer, and most fall behind particularly in math and spelling.
But again this summer, educators across Kent ISD are collaborating with partner organizations — including the Kent District Library — to turn a brain drain into a brain gain, and to keep learning going all summer for all students through the ISD’s free Summer Brain Gain program.
The program provides online learning, resources students can engage with on their own and printable packets available to students in grades K-12 in Kent County and beyond.
Registration for instructor-led courses is available by grade level for all public, private and homeschooled students began June 15. These courses and other learning opportunities continue to begin June and July and conclude Aug. 7.
“We have brought together experts in curriculum and instructions from all around Kent ISD to create courses, gather learning opportunities and connect families with resources appropriate for their students at every grade level,” Kelli Brockway, Director of Teaching and Learning at Kent ISD, said in supplied material. “The idea is to bridge the learning gap between June and the start of the new school year.”
Preliminary estimates suggest additional learning losses due to the pandemic, or “COVID slide” as it’s been called.
A report by Dr. Megan Kufeld and Dr. Beth Tarasawa for the Collaborative for Student Growth at NWEA suggests learning loss may range from 30 percent in reading, to more than 50 percent in math and in some grades, according to supplied material. It also suggests when students return in the fall, learning may be nearly a full year behind what likely would be observed in normal conditions.
Summer Brain Gain programs offered include GRASP, the Grand Rapids Public Schools Program for math and reading that is free for Kent ISD students this summer.
Connections to vetted online apps, resources and links to learning that children and teens can engage in on their own are also part of the program, according to Kent ISD. Summer Brain Gain also links students and families to educational offerings by area cultural and community organizations who are School News Network Education Everywhere partners such as John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Van Andel Institute, Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park and more. All resources are located at kentisd.org/SummerBrainGain.
Printable packets and links to Kent ISD’s Summer Brain Gain program are available through partnerships with Kent District Library, Grand Rapids Public Library and Literacy Center of West Michigan. Packets can be ordered for printing and pick up at library locations throughout Grand Rapids and Kent County.
Through the Kent District Library partnership, students can order printed packets from their local KDL branch and KDL will print it and have it available for them to pick up. For more information visit here.
Registration is now open but the deadline to register for GRASP is June 30. Summer Brain Gain materials and connections will be available through Kent District Library, Grand Rapids Public Library and Literacy Center for West Michigan starting this week, on June 22.
Kent ISD is a regional educational service agency that provides instructional and administrative services to more than 300 schools, 20 public districts, three non-public districts, and many public school academies and non-public schools within the ISD’s boundaries.
For more informant about the Kent ISD, visit their website kentisd.org.
School News Network hosts the series “Grads with Grit,” sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. The series offers inspiring stories of seniors who have faced considerable obstacles on the way to graduation day and yet, with perseverance and determination, have made it to the finish line. Below are some of the Grads with Grits from the Kentwood and Wyoming areas.
For more stories on our local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
Milton Brown by his Class of 2020 graduation sign. (School News Network)
Godwin Heights: ‘There’s no replacing Milton’
After being told he was “bad” in first grade, it is not surprising that Milton Brown’s attitude was not pleasant when he entered Godwin Heights Public Schools. But a teacher turned mentor and another at the Boys and Girls Club lead Milton down a different path, going from mentee to mentor. Click here to read Milton’s story.
Kelloggsville High School’s Naudia Potts. (Supplied/School News Network)
Kelloggsville: She’s ‘small but mighty’
Despite a time of homelessness in ninth grade, and the COVID-19 school closure as a senior, Kelloggsville senior Naudia Potts is set to graduate and set to soar at Central Michigan University where she will major in social work. Click here, to learn more about Naudia.
While graduation looks different this year, Quyen Tran is still celebrating. (Supplied/School News Network)
Kentwood: While embracing her roots, student leader steps forward
Wanting to bring the diverse backgrounds, customs, and traditions of Asia together, East Kentwood graduate Quyen Tran, an officer and original member of the Asian Student Union, organized the Asian Festival. This 4.33 grade point average student now has her sights on Harvard where she plans to be active with student groups and happenings. To read this student leader’s story, click here.
Adjy Jean smiles with two teachers at East Kentwood High School (courtesy/School News Network)
Kentwood: ‘Following a map and the sky’
Adjy Jean spent years as an unaccompanied youth, displaced and moving from country to country. Now after three years settled in Michigan, he will graduate from East Kentwood High School and start his next chapter at Grand Rapids Community College. Click here to learn more of Adjy’s story.
Rodrigo Lopez-Ruiz said he gets inspiration from friends and teachers at Wyoming (School News Network)
Wyoming: ‘I had to push myself’
While his family moved back to Mexico, Wyoming graduate Rodrigo Lopez-Ruiz decided to stay in the United States. Being largely on his own and taking responsibility for himself has been challenging, Rodrigo said, but the graduate wrapped up school by completing three dual enrollment courses while working at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital. For Lopez-Ruiz’s story, click here.
Marco Guzman with his parents, Veronica and Juan Guzman, in front of Kelloggsville High School (School News Network)
Project NorthStar/Kelloggsville: ‘So many doors have opened’
It was the birth of his daughter Leilani inspired Marco Guzman to graduate. “The moment I saw her, I knew I had to kick it in gear,” Marco said. “I had messed up my school and I wanted to change. I had to change, because I wanted her to know that she could succeed.” Learn how Kent ISD’s Project NorthStar helped Guzman graduate, get a driver’s license and find a job by clicking here.
Each year, the Hudonville Chamber of Commerce recognizes local businesses and business leaders. Last year, Hult, Inc received the Business Excellence Award. (Supplied)
A local business with offices in Wyoming and Kentwood was recognized by the Hudsonville Area Chamber of Commerce for being an outstanding business that has excelled in its industry while contributing to the Hudosnvile Community.
The Hudsonville Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy, which its Wyoming office is a member of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, was a finalist for the Hudsonville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Award. Also a a finalist was Healthy Choice Family Chiropractic with Farmhaus Cider Co. receiving the 2020 award fr its excellent innovation, unique business model and community involvement.
Each year the Hudsonville Area Chamber of Commerce chooses two business, and two individual as recipients o nth eBusiness Excellent, Spark, Leadership, and Chamber Champion Awards.
The Spark Award serves to recognize businesses/organizations who serve as a catalyst for growth and innovation in the Hudsonville Community. This year’s finalists included 317 Coffee, City2Shore Real Estate, and 4G Athletic. 317 Coffee received the Spark Award as they have a strong mission, and are truly spark-ing growth in Hudsonville.
The Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have excelled professionally and support the development of the Hudsonville business community. This year’s nominees included Patrick Waterman, Henry Samaniego, and Kris Keegstra. Kris Keegstra received the award for being an active volunteer in our community.
The Chamber Champion Award recognizes individuals who have personally contributed to the success of the Hudsonville Chamber. Adam Locker was recognized as the 2020 Chamber Champion as he is constantly going above and beyond to benefit both the Chamber and the Hudsonville Community.
“This will end. As stressful and devastating as it is, it will end. We are all in it together as a global community, and I do see the light at then end of the tunnel.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a June interview with UK newspaper The Telegraph
Kent County Health Department
The Kent County Health Department’s efforts to make COVID-19 testing more widely available to specific segments of the public has expanded by the opening of community testing sites, including ones at the Wyoming’s The Potter’s House school, and in Kentwood at the Kent County Health Department South Clinic. Go here for the story.
Metro Health
COVID-19 has exposed large health inequities both nationally and locally, resulting in devastating, even life-and-death consequences. In Michigan, over 40 percent of the deaths from COVID-19 were African American. Metro Health is working to address that issue. Go here for the story.
Mercy Health’s Clinica Santa Maria
Mercy Health Saint Mary’s is offering free COVID-19 testing for 1,000 residents of Grand Rapids’ Roosevelt Park Neighborhood, thanks to funding made available through the federal CARES Act grant to Kent County. Go here for the story.
Just the (sad) facts:
4,156 and 115
The Kent County Health Department has almost daily updates of Kent County and State of Michigan statistics. On May 18, they reported 4,156 total cases of COVID-19 but only 115 deaths. Source.
Woodland Mall’s Apple Store reopened this week, joining the three anchors and dozens of other stores and restaurants in again welcoming shoppers and diners. (Supplied)
Woodland Mall’s Apple Store reopened this week, joining the three anchor stores and dozens of other stores and restaurants in again welcoming shoppers and diners while still maintaining safety and cleanliness protocols, according to a statement from the mall management.
Apple, Macy’s, J.C. Penney and Von Maur are among the 80 retailers and restaurants that have reopened since June 1. A complete list of venue open at the mall, as well as updates on safety and cleanliness protocols, can be viewed on Woodland Mall’s website.
“We are so pleased that much of the mall has reopened and is ready to serve West Michigan again safely,” Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director, said in supplied material. “It’s a true pleasure to again welcome shoppers and diners from across to region back to Woodland Mall. The response over the first few weeks has been very positive, and we are delighted to welcome back more of our community.”
In order to comply with Michigan requirements, occupancy numbers remain limited as the mall operates on reduced hours — Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. (Some stores may limit those hours.)
Woodland Mall asks guests to follow CDC recommendations, make use of the several hand sanitizer stations located throughout the mall, wear masks and practice physical distancing.
Guests will notice some changes for their safety, as well as the safety of employees, according to the statement. In addition to its rigorous cleaning and sanitizing schedule, Woodland Mall managment company, PREIT, has carefully reviewed policies and procedures and thoroughly cleaned the mall using CDC-recommended disinfectant. Common area furniture and other elements where physical distancing cannot be enforced have been removed. While the play area remains closed indefinitely, food court seating is now available at reduced capacity.
Woodland Mall recommends shoppers visit individual retail or restaurant websites for the most current information and services including curbside pick-up, appointments and reservations. Retailers participating in the mall’s Mall2Go: Contact-Free Pickup program can be found on its website.
Continuing to provide some clarity to what K-12 public school education might look like in the fall — including a possible return to in-person learning — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced June 17 that she plans to announce on June 30 a “Michigan’s Return to School Roadmap” that will provide details on “what will be required and what will be recommended” for schools to reopen.
“Our students and educators have made incredible sacrifices these past few months to protect themselves and their families from the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Whitmer said in supplied material. “I am optimistic that we will return to in-person learning in the fall … (but) schools must make sure to enact strict safety measures to continue protecting educators, students, and their families.
Gov. Whitmer also said her office is working with the Return to Learn Advisory Council and leaders in health care “to ensure we get this right,” but that the state also needs more flexibility and support from the federal government.
“This crisis has had serious implications on our budget, and we need federal support if we’re going to get this right for our kids,” Gov. Whitmer said.
On May 15, Gov. Whitmer, buy executive order, created the COVID-19 Return to School Advisory Council. On June 3, the governor announced a group of 25 leaders in health care and education to serve on the advisory council. Local persons on the council include Kevin Polston, superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, and Nicholas J. Paradiso, vice president of government relations for National Heritage Academies.
The advisory council was created to “identify the critical issues that must be addressed, provide valuable input to inform the process of returning to school, and to ensure a smooth and safe transition back to school,” according to the governor’s statement.
“The most important thing we can do when developing a return to school plan is closely examine the data and remain vigilant in our steps to fight this virus,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services chief deputy for health, said in supplied material. “I will continue to work closely with Governor Whitmer and the Return to Learn Advisory Council to ensure we continue to put the health and safety of our students and educators first.”
The weather has been hot which has begged the question from several people on Facebook about when the City of Wyoming’s splash pads will be open.
The City of Wyoming’s Park and Recreation Department has announced it will open its splash pads on July 6. Wyoming has three splash pads, one at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW; one at Oriole Park, 1380 42nd St. SW., and the third is at Southlawn Park, 4125 Jefferson SW.
The splash pads are open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be social distancing guidelines put in place for the splash pads. More information about those guidelines will be coming soon. For more information, visit wyomingmi.gov and click on Parks and Recreation.
The splash pads at Kentwood’s Pinewood Park and Veteran’s Park are now open. (Kentwood)
Kentwood is now open
The City of Kentwood’s splash pads are open. Kentwood has two splash pads, one at Pinewood Park, 1999 Wolfboro Dr. SE, and a new splash pad at Veteran’s Park, located next to the Kentwood Activities Center at 355 48th St. SE.
The splash pads are open to the public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Participants are encouraged to follow CDC public health guidelines, including staying at least six feet away from others not in their household. For more about the parks in Kentwood, visit kentwood.us/exploreourparks and click on City Departments and then on Parks and Recreation.
Millennium Park splash pad is now open. (Kent County)
Millennium Park is open as well
Kent County also has opened the splash pad at Millennium Park, located behind Johnson Park at 1415 Maynard Ave. SW.
Due to COVID-19, the Millennium Park splash pad is limited to 50 percent capacity which is about 50 people. Currently the splash pad is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with hours reducing after Aug. 4 to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The splash pad is located next to the six-acre sand beach at Millennium Park.
Millennium Park does have an entrance fee which is $4/adults, $3/seniors (63 and older), $2 children (ages 3 – 15) and free for children two and under. For more information, visit kentcountyparks.org.
The City of Kentwood’s Master Plan update, which WKTV has covered in detail over the last year and which is nearing completion, is revisited on the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus.
Through a series of community engagement efforts called “Plan Kentwood”, the city has gained public input to help shape a long-range vision for growth, land use, development and open space conservation in the city. High on the list of areas to have updated plans are development near and along the extension of Breton Avenue south of 52nd Street, as well as the Division Avenue and 28th and 29th streets business districts.
With us to catch us up on the process from the City of Kentwood are Terry Schweitzer, Community Development Director, and Lisa Golder, Economic Development Planner.
WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
As part of its commitment to helping customers save money every day and reducing its environmental impact, SpartanNash today announced it is relaunching its Flashfood® pilot program at five West Michigan Family Fare stores.
The Flashfood app allows store guests and community nonprofits to purchase food nearing its best-by date at savings of up to 50 percent off. Eligible items include meat, produce, seafood, deli and bakery products.
The five participating Family Fare stores testing the Flashfood app are located at:
2245 84th St., SW in Byron Center
1415 E. Fulton St. in Grand Rapids
2755 Lake Michigan Drive, NW in Grand Rapids
1225 Leonard, NE in Grand Rapids
6127 Kalamazoo Ave., SE in Kentwood
Through the partnership, Family Fare shoppers can download the Flashfood app and browse grocery deals. Purchases are made directly from the shoppers’ phone and picked up from the Flashfood area in participating Family Fare stores.
The Flashfood pilot was first launched in February 2020 but was temporarily halted due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Given the success of the initial pilot, SpartanNash plans to expand the partnership at the end of the month, with additional stores to be announced soon.
“We are excited to relaunch the Flashfood app for our customers and expand the program to additional stores, making it easier than ever to save time and money at Family Fare,” Director, Retail Consumer Innovation Matt Bennett said. “The Flashfood app also gives us the ability to reduce food waste while increasing access to lower cost fresh foods – making it a win-win for our customers and the environment. Our aisles are filled with a variety of perishable foods, and as we get near the best-by dates, we want to make sure customers know about the savings available to them.”
Flashfood is a Toronto-based mobile app that operates in more than 450 grocery locations throughout Canada, Michigan and Wisconsin. The mobile app is free and available on iOS and Android.
After downloading the Flashfood app, customers can select a participating Family Fare store, choose the items they want to purchase and pay for them directly on the app, then pick up their items and confirm their order at the customer service counter. To make it even easier, the purchased food will be stored at the front of each participating Family Fare in refrigerators and on storage racks until the store guest picks them up.
The Flashfood app pilot is another way SpartanNash is fighting food waste and hunger in local communities. SpartanNash also partners with local food banks and food pantries throughout the company’s footprint, donating pantry staples and shelf-stable products as well as fresh dairy, meat and produce.
“Reducing food waste and building stronger communities are both important parts of SpartanNash’s corporate responsibility commitment,” Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications Meredith Gremel said. “At SpartanNash, we are always looking for positive changes we can drive as we ‘take food places’ in more socially responsible, environmentally sustainable ways, and the Flashfood app is another way we can do that – all while benefitting our store guests and community partners.”
As food supplies diminished during the recent statewide Stay Home, Stay Safe order, Hand2Hand officials were left with how to secure large quantities of food to help feed the thousands of children who rely on the organization and its church partners for weekend meals.
“Our founder Cheryl Hondred was praying on how we could feed these families also knowing that area restaurants were deeply impacted by COVID-19 as well,” said Jodi Joseph, director of growth for Hand2Hand. “Then she had this idea and it just started to grow.”
The idea became the Win Win program where Hand2Hand was able to take matching grant money to purchase gift cards from local businesses which in turn the organization would give to families to purchase meals at the restaurant.
Lombardo’s Pizza, 2307 Lee St. SW, Wyoming, was one of the 30 restaurants that participated in the Hand2Hand Win Win program. (WKTV)
Local restaurants were asked to create meals, not including drinks, that would feed a family of four but that the restaurant would still make a profit on, Joseph said. Gift cards would be purchased for $10, $15, or $20 and then distributed to the families who in turn could go to the restaurant to get the WinWin meal, she said.
“We were just blown away by the generous response of the community,” Joseph said. The Peter C. and Emajean Cook Foundation and the David and Carol Van Andel Foundation provided a $30,000 matching grant. Community members stepped up to foundations’ challenge contributing $40,000 to the program allowing Hand2Hand to raise a total of $70,000 in a short time.
“We have given out 4,100 gift cards and have heard numerous stories and testimonies from families who were so grateful to receive a warm cooked meal from restaurants that treated them so well,” said Hand2Hand Founder and Executive Director Cheri Hondred in a wrap up video about the program.
Through the effort, Hand2Hand was able to connect with more than 30 restaurants from 17 of the 37 school districts that the organization serves. Some of the restaurants were Two Guys Brewing, Lombardo’s, and Russ’s in Wyoming and The Candied Yam in Kentwood.
“At a very early age, my twin sissy and I experienced the pain of being hungry before we were adopted,” said Jessica Ann Tyson, owner of the Candied Yam as to why she participated in the Hand2Hand Win Win program. “Being able to partner with organizations, like Hand2Hand, gives us the opportunity to empathize and give back in a way that makes a big difference to someone. We are also grateful to keep our team working so we can continue making this food with great love to share with others.”
Wyoming’s TwoGuys Brewing also participated in the Hand2Hand Win Win program. Pictured is TwoGuys managing partnerTom Payne. (WKTV)
Nick Lombardo owner of Wyoming’s Lombardo Pizza, located at 2307 Lee St. SW, said the program did help in bringing traffic to his restaurant.
“The first couple of weeks we were down,” said Lombardo, who’s restaurant is mostly takeout and delivery. He added that the opportunity to be a part of the Win Win program gave the restaurant a chance to give back while keeping busy at the sametime.
Hand2Hand, which is based in Hudsonville, partners with about 119 area churches and businesses to provide weekend backpacks to more than 8,000 area students in 206 schools. Gift cards were dispersed to families who are part of the Hand2Hand program.
Now that the Stay Home, Stay Safe order has ended, the Win Win program also has wrapped up as well. Looking back at its success, Hondred, through the Hand2Hand blog said the program really was a blessing to the families as it provided a break and a special treat to them while providing stability and income to the partnering 30 restaurants.
According to the U.S. Census about 16 percent of the Kent County population does not have internet with about nine percent having no computers. However a recent initiative from the Kent District Library looks to help provide internet straight to resident’s homes.
The KDL has added 700 new hotspots to the collection, increasing the number to 8333. The hotspots are part of the Beyond Books Collection and are available to library cardholders age 18 and older.
Also announced this week, the State of Michigan is partnering to provide a map of public hotspots state wide. (See info below.)
A wifi hotspot is a small piece of equipment that will set up a wireless network that allows a houseful of people to connect to the Internet via cellular service. (Supplied)
“With an estimated 24,000 households without broadband access in Kent County, during this time of crisis, it is important to help as many people as we can,” said KDL Director of Library Services Carrie Wilson, who was referring to the recent COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in a quarantine. The result of the statewide quranrinte had many families working from home as well as students completing the 2019-2020 school year online.
“With so many people working and learning from home, the need for Internet access is greater than every before.”
Outside of the COVID-19 crisis, the U.S. Census through its data had determined that computer usage and Internet access had become increasingly important of regathering information, looking for jobs and participation in a changing world economy. For example, in a U.S. Census report about computer and Internet usage, it is estimated that about 8 percent of households had a compute run 1984. That number jumped to about half of all U.S. households having a computer in 2000 with the number growing to 79 percent in 2015.
Wilson also noted that the wifi at the KDL branches is free and open with residents being able to connect from the parking lot. A library card is not needed to connect to the free wifi.
To check out a hotspot, visit kdl.org and search on the term “hotspot.” Hotspots will be mailed to households while KDL branches are closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. When KDL opens, hotspots will be able to be picked up at the branches. KDL branches are expected to open with limited services July 6.
People who live in the KDL service area and do not have a library card can register for one online at kdl.org/virtual or by calling 616-784-2007.
Statewide map of hotspots
The State of Michigan, in partnership with the Connected Nation Michigan, released a statewide Wi-Fi hotspot map this week to assist residents who currently lack internet access at home. Currently on the map are only two in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on the map, but more are being added.
The COVID-19 pandemic and transition to remote and distance learning has only increased the need for residents and students to have easy access to broadband services.
The Wi-Fi mapping effort, spearheaded by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and Connected Nation Michigan, along with the Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) and the Michigan Department of Education, is an interim step amid the coronavirus pandemic to spotlight publicly available broadband hotspots for households without internet access.
The City of Kentwood has reopened its Little Free Pantry by appointment and is also in need of donations to support community members who may be struggling to keep food on the table, the city announced June 11. Through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, a partnership with Meals on Wheels also has senior meals available.
Located within the Kentwood Activities Center at 355 48th St. SE, the pantry typically serves hundreds of people each year, but that is expected to increase due to the financial hardship some individuals may be facing as a result of the coronavirus and associated closures, according to the city’s statement.
“Even before COVID-19, the demand for our pantry goods had been steadily growing and the shelves were becoming empty on a weekly basis,” Val Romeo, director of Kentwood Parks and Recreation, said in supplied material. “We’d like to be able to continue to fill the immediate and local need we have here in our community.
“In order to do that, we need the help of individuals and organizations who are able to give financially or provide tangible donations, such as canned goods, shelf-stable food and personal items like toilet paper, shampoo and toothpaste.”
The City of Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry is in the Kentwood Activities Center. (City of Kentwood)
Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry is available by appointment from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those who would like to utilize the pantry are asked to call ahead to 616-656-5270 and set up a time to come in. Upon arrival to the Kentwood Activities Center, a staff member will allow the individual in to take the items they need.
In addition to bringing donations to the Kentwood Activities Center, businesses, community organizations and other groups may partner with the city to better stock the pantry by accepting a Kentwood Little Free Pantry collection bin for canned goods and other non-perishable items at their facility. More information, including the application for a collection bin, can be found at: kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.
Meals on Wheels also available
The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department has also partnered with Meals on Wheels Western Michigan to bring back the Senior Meals program in a grab-and-go format for residents who are age 60 or older.
Participants can do curbside pickup at the Kentwood Activities Center on Mondays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. However, the meals must be reserved ahead of time by calling 616-656-5270 no later than the Friday before. There is no cost to participate, but donations are accepted. More information is available at mealsonwheelswesternmichigan.org.
School officials and students celebrate the end of the school year in special ways with some graduates discussing the riots and the impact on them and their community. For more stories on local schools, visit the School News Network website, schoolnewsnetwork.org.
From left, on bottom of the screen, Wyoming High School 10th grader Margoth De Leon and ninth grader Lizbi Garcia talk about how their family coped when their dad was hospitalized due to COVID-19 (School News Network)
Wyoming: Father receiving from COVID-19 thanks ‘ Team Gladiola’ on Zoom
A father’s thank you for the support from his children’s school, Gladiola Elementary School, shows just how important the weekly parent meetings between staff and families became during the COVID-19 lockdown. To learn more about Gladiola’s Continuity of Learning Plan, click here.
Schools had to adjust overnight to the new reality of the pandemic, and now face a funding crisis with literally billions of dollars at stake (School News Network)
All Districts: Our Kids, Our Future: COVID-19 and the looming crisis in public school funding
It is estimated that nationwide schools will need to spend $41 billion for COVID-19 pandemic related costs in technology and other social distancing guidelines. This is on top of an estimated $1.25 billion in lost funding. Want a better understanding of how this will all play out? Kent ISD Research Data Analyst Sunli Joy breaks down how school budgets are funded and the impact of the loss of funding and additional expenses. Click here for the story.
Protestors flooded downtown Grand Rapids the night of May 30, with a peaceful demonstration followed later by rioting (School News Network)
Kelloggsville/Godwin Heights: Students speak out on protests, call for ‘a better America tomorrow’
The recent protests could be a teachable moment, a call to action or both. School News Network spoke to five newly graduated seniors that included one from Kelloggsville and one from Godwin Heights, as well as a Godwin Heights educator, about the impact the protests have had on them, and what they think is needed to address the root causes. Click here to read more.
Godwin staff and teachers wave to students during the last day of school parade (School News Network)
Godwin Heights: ‘This was good for our souls!’
After 11 weeks of staying home, “flattening the curve” and distance learning, Godwin Heights students got to see the staff and teachers in person, from a safe distance, on the last day of school, May 29. West Godwin Elementary Principal Mary Lang dreamed up the idea for the last day of school parade and Assistant Principal Casey Kroll led the effort to make it happen, devising a route that hit every neighborhood in the district and making sure the parade passed bus stops so students would have a familiar spot to watch. To get the full story, click here.
Max Colley III kicks of the Sounds of Summers music series on July 2.
While the major names — Grand Rapids Symphony and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture — have announced cancelling their summer concert season, two local municipalities, the City of Kentwood and Byron Township have decided to make sure the beat goes on.
“We know that people really look forward to this,” said Byron Township Supervisor Tom Hooker about the annual Sounds of Summer concert series. “We just felt this was an opportunity for people to get out and look forward to something that was different.”
The township sponsors the annual Sounds of Summer which is scheduled to take place in July at Cutler Park, 6701 Cutler Park Dr. SW. Hooker noted that the township selected the location as it provides a special event for those living in the township’s northern corner.
“It was to my surprise that they decided to move forward,” said Patty Williams, a longtime WKTV volunteer who organizes the annual event. “I was contacted in March that the budget had been approved and the performers are really excited to come.”
This year’s Sounds of Summer will feature Max Colley III July 2, Jaded 8 July 9, Oat Bran Boys July 16, The Dusty Chaps July 23, and LWND July 30. All concerts start at 7 p.m. The concerts are recorded and aired on WKTV.
The Oat Bran Boys perform July 16 at the Sounds of Summer.
Both Williams and Hooker emphasized that social distancing guidelines will be put in place with residents encouraged to be six-feet apart from non-family members. Williams said the event also will be dedicated by executive orders on the size of gatherings. Currently, only gatherings of 10 people are allowed, however it does appear the state may be moving to Stage 5 of the reopening plan which would increase the number of people at gatherings. Stage 6 would allow for any size gathering.
“I’m kind of excited because we may be one of the only fun events taking place which means we might see people who have never come before,” Williams said, adding that with the number of outdoor concerts cancelled she is expecting larger crowds than normal.
Kentwood announces it plans to host its summer concerts in July. (WKTV)
City of Kentwood
In its June newsletter, the City of Kentwood announced it would be hosting its Summer Concert Series on select Thursday nights in July with some modifications to ensure physical distancing during the events. The concerts will take place behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. Appropriate distanced areas will be marked for residents to safety enjoy the shows.
The Kentwood Summer Concerts will be livestreamed by WKTV for those who like to watch from their home. City staff will monitor public health guidance and state orders, which may cause changes or postponement of upcoming events or programs. Dates and times for the concerts and other details will be announced on the city’s website.
A Quieter Summer
“Usually we are announcing the upcoming summer concerts but all we have been doing is telling people what has been postponed, delayed or cancelled,” said John Sinkevics, owner and publisher of the online local music site Local Spins.
For the past couple of months, concerts organizers have been announcing decisions to cancel outdoor performances. The latest being the Lowell Sizzlin’ Summer Concert series. There were events, such as the annual Grand Rapids Jazz Fest that had taken the year off due to planned remodelling work at Rosa Parks Circle, but now that work also has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is going to be a lot of human costs, a lot of financial loss,” Sinkevics said, adding that many had to look at not only ticket sales but being able to get together to plan the events. That was the case of the Festival of the Arts this year, which announced that due to the restrictions in the spring, volunteers could not meet to plan out the event. The ripple effect has been a lot of musicians who will not be playing this summer.
“Hopefully conditions will improve,” Sinkevics said. “Regardless, the way we attend something is going to be different. The way we came together, packed in, surfing people, that has all been blown out of the water.”
In the past, concerts seemed to compete with each other for audiences and those who plan on hosting events in July might find themselves competing with delayed graduation events.
And there are outdoor concerts taking place, Sinkevics noted. Just recently, Local Spins featured a concert at Grand Rapids’ The Score and provides a weekly list of live and virtual concerts taking place around West Michigan. But as the name of that list, “The Not-So-Big List,” indicates, the 2020 summer concert selection is just going to be smaller this year than in the past.
Education leaders local and statewide are warning of what Superintendent Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Kevin Polston calls “unprecedented budget deficits” at Michigan public schools resulting from decreased tax revenues due to the COVID-19 economic crisis.
While the looming school funding concerns are just beginning to hit the news, the community may have some questions, need a little background and history.
Why will lower tax revenue impact public school funding? How does the state fund public schools? What is the recent history of changes in tax-payer funding of schools? How do public schools spend their state funding?
The Kent ISD recently produced informational videos that tries to explain the state’s taxpayer funded public school finances — including one specific to current school funding concerns. (See additional information videos descriptions and links below.)
Superintendent Polston, in a recent Godfrey-Lee schools community-wide email, makes clear the current — and urgent need — for community understanding and action on the current threat to public school funding. He also urges increased state and federal support for public schools.
“Without federal intervention, the budget shortfall for the remainder of 2019-2020 through 2021 school year would total $6.2 billion for all Michigan public schools. Godfrey-Lee alone could see a deficit of over $1.2 million ($700 per student) for just the 19-20 school year that is about to end,” Polston said. “Further cuts are projected for the 2020-21 school year that begins on July 1, 2020.
“Put in context, this is roughly twice as large a deficit as Michigan public schools faced in the Great Recession, yet federal aid to date has been less than 20 percent than was given at that time. In fact, of the $2 trillion of aid granted by the (federal COVID-19 recovery) CARES Act, less than 1 percent went to fund public education.”
Polston points out that school districts are required by state law to present a balanced budget by June 30, 2020 for the upcoming school year, even though the state has not provided an answer about the shortfall for 2019-20 or given a projected budget for 2020-21.
“This is unacceptable,” he said. “To meet our legal requirement, we have to use the budget forecasts that have been provided (to Godfrey-Lee schools). These forecasts call for $2,750,000 in cuts for our upcoming school year. Cuts of this magnitude would devastate GLPS and would challenge the district’s future solvency.”
To aid Kent County schools districts explain the current funding system, and the need for community support and action, the Kent ISD produced a series of short videos.
An ISD is a regional education service agency. The job of Kent County’s ISD, one of the state’s 57 agencies, is to “help local school districts with programs and services that are best done on a regional basis — things that are highly specialized or that would be far too expensive on an individual basis,” according to the Kent ISD.
The videos:
History of Michigan Public School Finances, which details how school financing in Michigan is guided by Proposal A which was approved by Michigan voters in 1994 which shifted ‘day to day’ school finance to a state-based model.
What Public School Finances Fund, which details how public schools in Michigan spend a majority of their resources on personnel and describes how dollars are divided up to fund education in this state.
Taxes and Public School Education, which explains how everyone who works or lives in Michigan helps to support public schools by paying taxes, and where tax dollars for public education come from and how they are spent.
COVID-19’s Impact on Michigan School Funding, which details how school finance will be greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the economic impact will negatively affect Michigan’s public schools.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park set to open on Monday. (Supplied)
Places are starting to reopen with Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture announcing it will open Monday and the Kent County Parks announcing it will have a stagger opening. Opening immediately are swimming beaches at Long Lake Park, Millennium Park, Myers Lake Park and Wabasis Park; all playgrounds; the Kaufman Golf Course; all restrooms, open shelters and group picnic areas. KDL announced it will start curbside June 15. For more upcoming openings, click here.
Time to purge, Kentwood
Kentwood residents, Saturday is your official Community Clean-Up Day!. That means all the stuff you have been collecting over the past 10 weeks in quarantine you can finally get rid of. Community Clean-Up Day takes place from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Kentwood Department of Public Works, 5068 Breton Ave. SE. Also opening this Saturday is the city’s brush and leaves drop-off sites. For more information, click here.
Our beautiful Downtown GR
Hundreds of people came out last Sunday to help downtown Grand Rapids businesses clean up after a night of riots. This past week, artists and community leaders turned the boarded up windows into works of art and positive message such as the “be nice.” displayed at One Trick Pony. Take a drive through downtown this weekend to see this mini-outside gallery and remember, many of the places are now open so step on in and share the love. For more, click here.
Everybody Loves a Parade!
Let’s admit it: we all love those big trucks. On May 22, the Kentwood Department of Public had a parade of its trucks to show community support. So click on the link above and enjoy the ride!
The City of Kentwood and its Public Works Department has an annual tradition during National Public Works Week of inviting the pubic into its buildings to see all the impressive equipment and big trucks that serve the community.
But, in this time of social distancing, and in lieu of a traditional open house for National Public Works Week, city vehicles and crews gave the community a parade of big trucks — and smiles — in late May.
WKTV was there to record it.
The Kentwood community appreciated the big truck parade, and said so. (Supplied/Kentwood DPW)
Glenwood Elementary second-grade teacher Lauren Heald leads her class earlier this school year using the Capturing Kids Hearts model (School News Network)
Godfrey-Lee: Gaming club doubles membership its first season
The Godfrey-Lee’s first esports club grew from 18 students last fall to 40 middle and high schoolers competing in games such as Super Smash Bros., Ultimate, Fortnite, Overwatch and Mario Kart. In-person gaming clubs are growing in local districts and beyond. Other area esports teams include Catholic Central, East Grand Rapids, Lowell, Rockford, Sparta, Kentwood, West Catholic and West Michigan Aviation Academy. Aquinas College hosts sports competitions and West Michigan University has built an arena to accommodate esports. For more, click here.
Kentwood teachers are using KPS Remote Learning and Tech Talk as a go-to spot for tech tool instruction (School News Network)
Kentwood: Teachers tap into one another’s knowledge for remote teaching
Kentwood Public Schools educators have been sharing their knowledge and the tools they use in their classrooms with other teachers as the district quickly switched to remote learning due to the state-mandated closure of schools to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Just how did they accomplish this? Click here to learn more.
Director of Dining Services Monica Collier, far right, holds her statewide award for Breakfast Hero given to her by Mindy Grant, Michigan Breakfast Program grant manager, second from right. Lee Middle and High School student council members surround the breakfast cart Collier implemented (School News Network)
Godfrey-Lee: I’ll take that to go, please, for geometry class
With most of the students at Godfrey-Lee receiving free or reduce meals, you would think breakfast would be popular, but turnout was quite low for the morning meal. That is until Godfrey-Lee Dining Services Director Monica Collier created the breakfast cart program last fall, earning a state award for her idea in early March before the mandatory school closure due to COVID-19. To learn more about the breakfast cart program click here.
Kent County Health Department’s Wyoming location, The Potter’s House school, is a “walk-through” testing site is available Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon., until Aug. 1. (KCHD)
The Kent County Health Department’s efforts to make COVID-19 testing more widely available to specific segments of the public has expanded by the opening of community testing sites, including ones at the Wyoming’s The Potter’s House school, and in Kentwood at the Kent County Health Department South Clinic.
According to a June 3 statement, testing is available to individuals over the age of six months who live in a community impacted by COVID-19, have a known exposure to a person with confirmed COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19, or work in a job that puts them at high risk for exposure (jail, homeless shelters, nursing homes or assisted living facilities, food processing facilities, or any business that limits the ability to practice social distancing, or has repeated close contact with the public).
“Expanding COVID-19 testing in Kent County is important,” Christopher Bendekgey, the department’s community clinical services director, said in supplied material. “We wanted to establish sites in the geographic areas where we are seeing the highest incidents of positive cases and where individuals have less access to transportation.”
Federal CDC-privided Coronavirus test kit. (Kent County Health)
The Potter’s House “walk-through” testing site is located at 810 Van Raalte Dr. SW, and available Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon., until Aug. 1. The Kentwood “drive through” site is located at Kent County Health Department South Clinic, 4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. noon, until Sept. 1.
Other sites in the county which offer the tests include the drive-through Kent County Health Department Main Clinic, 700 Fuller Ave. NE, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, until Sept. 1; and the walk-through Baxter Community Health Center, 958 Baxter SE, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., until Sept. 1.
Registration for the testing is “strongly encouraged” and can be done by visiting accesskent.com/health or by calling 616-632-7200.
No insurance or identification is needed to receive the free test. However, people who have health insurance are asked to bring their insurance cards.
Individuals must wear a mask when arriving at a testing location. The test is administered by inserting a small swab into the nose and gently collecting nasal secretions from the back of the nose and throat. “It can cause mild discomfort but is a quick procedure,” according to the county statement.
Results should be available within three to five business days. If positive, individuals will receive further information from KCHD.
Part of the goal of the increased testing availability is “so we can get more accurate idea of the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Bendekgey said. “It will not only protect individuals and their families but is an essential part of our overall strategy towards recovery.”
The Kentwood City Commission recently passed a resolution reducing regulations and expediting the site plan review process some local businesses. (WKTV)
The City of Kentwood announced today that “in an effort to support Kentwood businesses and jumpstart the local economy,” the Kentwood City Commission recently passed a resolution reducing regulations and expediting the site plan review process for temporary outdoor retail, food, beverage and personal service uses.
Effective immediately and through Nov. 1, the resolution suspends time limits on temporary sign display and waives business license fees, according to a Wednesday, June 3, statement.
Retailers, restaurants and personal service businesses, such as training facilities, wanting to add expanded outdoor spaces for customers now have the opportunity to apply for such allowances through a streamlined administrative review process, the statement continues.
“It goes without saying — COVID-19 and shelter-in-place requirements over the past three months have had tremendous impacts on our local businesses,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “As we look to restart the local economy, the City of Kentwood remains committed to being a help and not a hindrance for our business community, and has implemented a number of measures to assist.
“The resolution passed is intended to ease and expedite businesses’ abilities to serve customers in a manner that’s consistent with evolving public health recommendations.”
The review and approval of site plans for general retail sales, food, beverage and personal service establishments in the city seeking to utilize outdoor areas, such as exterior building aprons or parking areas, will be conducted through the Planning Department. Interested businesses are asked to complete the online application at kentwood.us/businessrestart for consideration.
Under the temporary sign moratorium, one temporary sign of up to 32 square feet in area is allowed per business. Other restrictions in the Zoning Ordinance applicable to temporary signs, such as sign placement and similar matters, remain in effect.
For the licensing year, city business license fees for all businesses located in the city will be waived with the exception of the following: transient, waste hauler, door-to-door, and snowplowing licenses, or hazardous material fees.
As part of the City Commission resolution, the city’s Economic Development Corporation and two members of the Planning Commission were tasked to review city ordinances and regulations and propose to the City Commission changes to enhance the local business environment during the state of emergency and to submit those recommendations to the City Commission for its consideration in an ongoing fashion until Nov. 1 or as further extended by the City Commission, according to the city.
WKTV Community Media does plan to broadcast and live stream its Dream Wheels classic car show in August. (WKTV)
While the 2020 Metro Cruise has been cancelled this year, auto car enthusiasts still will be able to enjoy a host of classic cars as WKTV Community Media will be broadcasting its popular Dream Wheels classic car show in August.
The Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce announced today that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has made the decision to cancel the 28th Street Metro Cruise for 2020.
The event was scheduled to take place for its 16th consecutive year on Aug. 21-22 on the 13-mile long stretch of 28th Street from Grandville to Cascade Charter Township. The central hub of the event takes place at Rogers Plaza in Wyoming, which features the famous Collector Car Row, local bands, event merchandise and more.
“While it is very unfortunate the pandemic has affected our society and events in so many ways, WKTV Community Media is committed to helping to keep the home fires for Metro Cruise burning,” said WKTV General Manager Tom Norton. “We’ve been in the planning stages for the televised coverage of Metro Cruise for the last few months and will be shifting to a live and streamed classic car program for 2020.”
Dream Wheels has become a popular attraction during Metro Cruise hosting a number of rare cars and popular favorites. Norton said plans for this year’s show will again focus on lots of car classics.
“At this stage, we can say that the program will feature many classic vehicles from the region, but without general public attendance,” Norton said. “We encourage everyone to stay with WKTV Journal to get more updates on the program as they develop and we heartily encourage everyone to continue to follow all rules and guidelines so we can see the COVID pandemic in the rear view mirror.”
Metro Cruise was started in 2005 to help drive traffic to 28th Street after M-6 was opened. (WKTV)
Started in 2005 to help drive business to the 28th Street corridor when the M-6 highway system opened on the south end of Grand Rapids, the Metro Cruise has become a known and loved West Michigan’s premiere car event. The Metro Cruise typically draws more than 275,000 people annually from across the United States and includes approximately 15,000 vehicles such as hot rods, low riders, muscle cars, performance cars, classics, antiques and motorcycles, in additional to numerous live events.
“This event has become a community tradition, and we always look forward to welcoming car lovers from around the country into our communities each year,” said Bob O’Callaghan, president and CEO the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. “While it appears our state may begin to gradually reopen this summer, the event still poses a potential high risk of spreading COVID-19 in our community and beyond.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the Chamber agreed it cannot risk a second wave of infection in a state that already has experienced enough loss. This was an extremely difficult decision for the Chamber to make, but the right one in light of health concerns for our community.”
The event is planned to return Aug. 20-21, 2021. For more information on the event, visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.com.
Deposit bottles and cans can be simply recycled as glass or metal, but with the return process being phased back in, there is probably some cash to be made. (Public Domain)
The State of Michigan Department of Treasury, this week, issued a Notice Regarding Phased Reestablishment of Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Return Program, which includes instructions that beginning June 15 some retailers must reopen their bottle return facilities and resume the collection of returnable beverage containers and refund of customer bottle deposits.
The collection of returnable beverage containers was temporarily suspended by an Executive Order issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on March 23.
According to supplied material, this applies to retailers “with bottle return facilities located at the front of the store or housed in a separate area and serviced exclusively by reverse vending machines requiring minimal or no person-to-person contact.”
Retailers reopening their bottle return facilities must ensure those facilities comply with all state-mandated safety protocols and restrictions, the statement continues.
In addition, retailers may take any or all of the following steps:
— Limit the number of beverage containers that may be returned by a single individual per day to a deposit refund amount of $25.
— Establish special or limited hours of operation for bottle return facilities.
— Limit the number of available and operating reverse vending machines.
— Periodically close bottle deposit facilities as needed for cleaning and supply management.
— Implement such other procedures or restrictions as each retailer may determine are necessary or advisable to promote safety and/or efficiency.
The statement also points out that consumers have the option of recycling their returnable beverage containers if they choose not to return them to a bottle deposit redemption facility.
Before many businesses can open, owners first must secure personal protective equipment with two local agencies stepping up to the challenge to help owners find and purchase what they needs.
This week, Kent County announced the Kent County Back to Work initiative where the Kent County Board of Commissioners has allocated $2 million of the County’s CARES Act funding to provide person protective equipment at not cost to qualifying small businesses and other employers. Available PPE includes eye and face protection, gloves, hand sanitizer and thermometers.
“We need to focus on getting our economy back on track, making sure employers have what they need to safely reopen and employees fee safet to go back to work,” said Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter. “Our Board listened to countless business representatives who were concerned about the ability to source PPE. We ant to remove that roadblock and use the County buying power to help where we can.”
To quality, employers must be located in Kent County and must employ 100 people or fewer. Qualified employers may place PPE requests either online or by calling the PPE fulfillment center at (616) 245-3636 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Calls will be taken in English or Spanish.
All qualifying requests received by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, June 4 will be entered into a random selection process. The first-round selection will take place on Friday, June 5, and a third-party fulfillment center will begin filling requests on that date.
Those selected in the first-round selection process will be contacted after their requests are filled, and they will be told where they can pick-up their order. Requests not picked up by employers within five business days of notification will be returned to inventory.
The program will continue accepting employer requests and running daily random selection process as long as program funding is available. If an employer is not selected in the initial drawing, they will remain eligible either until they are selected or until funding is no longer available.
Face shields are another PPE product available from local manufacturers.
Local PPE manufacturers
The Right Place, Inc. has developed and launched the West Michigan PPE Supplier Directory. This directory features West Michigan manufacturers who are producing high-demand PPE supplies, along with contact information to procure the supplies.
As West Michigan begins the process of a phased reopening, including today’s restart of manufacturing operations, companies can use this directory to fulfill their critical PPE supply needs and ensure a safe workplace reopening.
“As the region’s employers begin the process of restarting operations, we are proud to offer this resource to assist them in securing PPE from local manufacturers,” said Birgit Klohs, President and CEO, The Right Place, Inc. “The depth and breadth of the PPE available showcases the manufacturing prowess of our region. We are still a community who makes things, and this expertise has served us well as the community navigates this crisis.”
Companies can use the directory to source a wide variety of commonly needed types of PPE such as face masks and shields, gowns, googles, gloves, sanitization products, thermometers and more. More than 60 local companies are featured in the directory.
The West Michigan PPE Supplier Directory lists several Kentwood and Wyoming business that are making PPE productions. Some of the Kentwood and Wyoming businesses listed and the products they have are:
Kentwood’s 3D Printed Parts is offering this comfort strap for masks.
3D Printed Parts, 4355 Airwest Dr. SE, masks, face shields, and comfort straps for masks
Ladder 34, 4980 Kendrick St SE, masks and face shields
Bluewater Technologies, 4245 44th St. SE, digital signs, face shields
Nutra Foods, 4683 50th St. SE, masks, face shields, gloves, goggles, protective suits (not gowns)
Winners Brand, 5090 Kendrick Ct. SE, masks, face shields
Laird Plastics, 3839 E. Paris SE, face shields
Superior Business Solutions, 3615 29th St. SE, gloves, goggles, safety signage, thermometers
Southern Lithoplate, 4150 Danvers Ct. SE, hand sanitizer
Total Plastics, 1652 Gezon Parkway SW, face shields, medical mobile carts
Rapid-Line, 1475 Gezon Pkway. SW, hand free door pulls
Wyoming’s Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, environmental and health consulting
Additionally, products and manufacturers are being added on a regular basis.
If you are a manufacturer producing PPE and would like to be added to the list, contact The Right Place at PPEequip@rightplace.org.
The City of Kentwood on Monday, June 1, released a tentative road construction and maintenance schedule for the summer, including a map of varied levels of work and possible impact on commuters. (See map at end of story.)
The City Commission has approved a resurfacing and maintenance program which includes improvements to 40 miles of major and local roads, at a cost of $695,982.
The projects are funded through the Michigan Transportation Fund, which is supported by taxes on the sale of gasoline and diesel fuel as well as fees collected by the Secretary of State for vehicle registrations.
“We appreciate the patience of residents and businesses as we work to maintain and improve this important infrastructure, which is critical for a safe and functioning community,” Brad Boomstra, Kentwood city engineer, said in supplied material. “While we understand the short-term inconvenience of road construction can be frustrating, quality roads offer many benefits in the long run. Crews will work as quickly as possible to minimize impacts on commuters.”
Pavement management decisions are made in accordance with industry principles based on hard data, such as the PASER ratings obtained each year. According to the statement from the city, Kentwood maintains one of the highest-rated major street networks in Kent County according to data compiled by the Grand Valley Metro Council.
Major streets scheduled for maintenance include: East Paris Avenue from 52nd Street to 60th Street, 52nd Street from Division Avenue to Kellogg Woods Drive, and 29th Street from west City limits near Breton Avenue to 28th Street.
Street resurfacing and maintenance projects currently underway include: 44th Street from Breton Avenue to Shaffer Avenue, reconstruction of Roger B. Chaffee Memorial Boulevard, and other preventative street maintenance work throughout the city, including routine street marking, crack sealing and patching.
A number of neighborhood roads will receive cape seal treatments in June and July. According to the statement, a cape seal is a multiple component treatment designed to create a smooth surface with increased durability. Cape seal projects will take two non-consecutive days on each segment of road, and no street parking will be available while the work occurs. Affected homeowners will be informed via direct mailing.
The City aims to have its resurfacing and routine maintenance completed by the end of September. Message boards on major streets will give commuters advance notice of when closures will begin. Commuters can also receive updates via the city’s social media channels Facebook and Twitter. For more information, including another version of the map, visit www.kentwood.us.
